Advocacy

By J. Alex Tarquinio, 2018-19 SPJ President • September 8th, 2019

During the 2018-2019 term, SPJ has responded to the heightened challenges to press freedom, including verbal and physical attacks on journalists, with a wave of advocacy statements and interviews by SPJ leaders.

SPJ National President J. Alex Tarquinio moderated a live interview with San Francisco journalist Bryan Carmody, whose home was raided by the police in search of clues to his confidential sources, along with his lawyer. (video)

Lynn Walsh organized a Facebook “Train the Trainers” program from Aug. 15 to 16. SPJ National President J. Alex Tarquinio gave opening remarks.

SPJ National President J. Alex Tarquinio and SPJ Indiana State Pro Chapter President John Russell gave remarks at the 110th SPJ Anniversary event at DePauw University. (video)

July 2019

SPJ Journalist on Call Rod Hicks hosted the final session of the Casper Project, with Foundation President Irwin Gratz and SPJ National President J. Alex Tarquinio giving opening remarks, July 16.

SPJ National President J. Alex Tarquinio represented the Society at a forum on journalist safety at the United Nations, July 17.

SPJ National President J. Alex Tarquinio gave opening remarks at a D.C. Pro chapter event about Whistleblowers, July 31.

June 2019

SPJ National President J. Alex Tarquinio gave opening remarks at an SPJ Google News Institute event before the SDX Banquet, June 21.

May 2019

SPJ National President J. Alex Tarquinio delivered prepared remarks and participated on a panel with Steven Adler and Warren Hoge before an audience of 400 at the United Nations headquarters in New York on World Press Freedom Day, May 3. (video) (text of remarks)

SPJ National President J. Alex Tarquinio produced and hosted a World Press Freedom Day Summit from April 26 to 27 with a generous grant from Craig Newmark. The theme of this gathering, known as Quo Vadis Democracy was journalism nonprofit leaders was the threat of disinformation to journalism and democracy. (videos) (text of group resolution)

SPJ National President J. Alex Tarquinio and RTDNA Executive Director Dan Shelley spoke to a group of 25 global journalists at the U.S. State Department’s Foreign Press Center at the United Nations, Oct. 5.

CONTACT:
Patricia Gallagher Newberry, SPJ National President, 513-702-4065, pattinewberryspj@gmail.com
Jennifer Royer, SPJ Director of Communications and Marketing, 317-361-4134, jroyer@spj.org
INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists mourns the death of its 58th president William J. Small. The veteran news executive died Sunday at the age of 93.
“We send our condolences to Mr. Small’s family, friends and former...

CONTACT:
John Shertzer, SPJ Executive Director, 317-920-4780, jshertzer@spj.org
Jennifer Royer, SPJ Director of Communications and Marketing, 317-361-4134, jroyer@spj.org
INDIANAPOLIS — A 2018 case involving misappropriation of regional funds in Society of Professional Journalists Region 10 has been resolved, the SPJ Board of Directors announced today.
SPJ reached a settlement with the individual, who has agreed to pay back the full amount owed —...

Contacts:
Matthew Kent, SPJ Program Coordinator, 317-920-4788, mkent@spj.org
Ashlynn Neumeyer, Communications Coordinator, 317-361-4133, aneumeyer@spj.org
INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists congratulates the 2019 Mark of Excellence Awards national winners. The MOE Awards honor the best of collegiate journalism within a calendar year.
National MOE winners are chosen from category winners in each of SPJ’s 12 regions. They are judged by journalism professionals...

Contacts:
Rod Hicks, SPJ Journalist on Call, 317- 954-0025, rhicks@spj.org
Jennifer Royer, SPJ Director of Communications and Marketing, 317-361-4134, jroyer@spj.org
INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists is now taking applications for its Journalists’ Emergency Fund created during the SPJ Day of Giving Back on April 30.
More than 200 donors, plus a significant matching gift from Craig Newmark...

Upcoming Events and Deadlines

SPJ's Regional Conferences are day-long professional development meetings bringing area journalists, students and journalism educators together in one place to hear from industry experts on topics ranging from improving writing to leveraging technology in today's new media climate. Networking opportunities at the conferences allow participants to build relationships that can lead to the sharing of the best practices in newsrooms....

Looking to go deeper on the structure of solutions reporting? This hands-on, interactive webinar is an opportunity for journalists to work with each other to identify the core ingredients of solutions journalism. Participants will group together to learn what makes the 'four pillars' effective, how they look and feel in the context of a story, and how they can contribute...

This Solutions Journalism Network webinar will explore the ins and outs of solutions journalism, talk about why it's important, explain key steps in reporting a solutions story, and share tips and resources for journalists interested in investigating how people are responding to social problems. We will also explore additional resources we have on hand for your reporting, including the Solutions...

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the in-person Sigma Delta Chi Awards banquet has been canceled. But that isn't stopping us from celebrating the great journalism of 2019. Mark your calendar for Noon EDT June 26 to tune in to a live announcement of all the SDX Award winners. More details are coming soon!

Many journalists are covering a physical and mental health crisis while they also may be struggling to cope themselves. This conversation will examine how to work through this moment, by looking at the stories we're telling ourselves about it, how these stories affect our emotional lives, and consequently, the stories we are reporting and writing.
This National Press Club Journalism...